Authors (including presenting author) :
Luk YS(1), Cheung HS (2), Leung YK (2), Tang WL(3), Lau CW(2), Pang KY(4)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, (2) Hong Kong East Cluster Quality and Safety Office, (3) Department of Clinical Pathology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, (4) Department of Neurosurgery, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Introduction :
Handover of Important Investigation Results is a major clinical risk in HA. The Important Result Reminder (IRR) in CMS was developed as a risk mitigation strategy. The use of this IRR is facilitated if laboratory requests are submitted either through GCRS or manual forms with clearly handwritten or stamped CMS logon codes. However, the latter has potential issues of handwriting legibility and cost in making chops. Therefore, better utilization of GCRS is the long-term and cost-effective solution and should be promoted.
Objectives :
To devise measures to improve the utilization of GCRS usage with evaluation of the effectiveness
Methodology :
Baseline GCRS utilization rate of Histopathology and Cytology (H&C) examinations in PYNEH were collected from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017. 1175 histopathology manual request forms and 73 Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) manual request forms from 1 April to 30 June 2018 were inspected to identify the sources and find out reasons and hurdles for not using GCRS. Improvement measures were devised based on the findings. Data on GCRS utilization rate were studied serially before and after the measures.
Result & Outcome :
It was found that the commonest sources of manual forms were from excision and/or biopsy cases. Several improvement measures were implemented since August 2017. A tab of ‘1RAD’ (e.g. SURG_1RAD) was created for selected clinical specialties to facilitate the use of GCRS when performing out-patient examinations in the Department of Radiology. The use of GCRS in the Department of Radiology was promoted in department meetings. GCRS-OTRS interface was implemented and clinicians could include their clinical drawings for H&C requests via GCRS. New organ sites (e.g. ‘Spinal Cord’ and ‘Brain Tissue’) for GCRS Histopathology requests were added to CMS. Additional clinical information sheet (e.g. proforma, surgeon’s drawing etc.) would be accepted and handled by the Department of Clinical Pathology accordingly. Comparing data between the two periods, namely, 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 and 1 Jul 2018 to 30 September 2018, the GCRS utilization of Cytology increased from 95.83% to 99.5%; histology from 61.55% to 84.45%, Gynecological examinations from 99.49 to 99.94%, and FNA from 70.74% to 99.5%. In conclusion, the implemented improvement measures were practical and effective in promoting GCRS utilization.
Co-location with:
